To build on the momentum, Benjamin began uploading new songs to his YouTube channel at a rapid clip and eventually earned a viral hit with “I Built a Friend” and a deal with Atlantic Records.
Benjamin connects to listeners by incorporating using his life struggles to tell stories and give meaning to his songs. You can see this in “Let Me Down Slowly,” “Paper Crown,” “I Built a Friend,” “Death of a Hero,” and “If We Have Each Other.”
Benjamin released his first studio album mixtape, Narrated for You on November 16, 2018, and released his first studio album, These Two Windows on May 29, 2020
Hipocrite
Alec Benjamin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sayin' and portrayin' things you don't really mean
All talk, no walk
You can be a winner with no skin in the game
You can be a sinner long as you say you've changed
You're a talk, you're a walk
Well, if that's the game I'm playin'
Yeah, if that's the game I'm playin'
Then I'm prayin' we don't play it for long
All these pompous fools
With their broken rules
And their noses in the air
Keep pretendin' that they care
All these stubborn mules
Went to fancy schools
But the only thing they learned to do is talk
It's hip to be a hypocrite, well, that's how it goes
Sayin' and portrayin' things, but only for show
They talk, throw rocks
Livin' in a mansion that they made out of glass
Always throwin' tantrums, always gettin' a pass
All talk, they don't stop
Well, if that's the game I'm playin'
Then I'm prayin' we don't play it for long
Yeah, if that's the game I'm playin'
Then I'm prayin' we don't play it for long
All these pompous fools
With their broken rules
And their noses in the air
Keep pretendin' that they care
All these stubborn mules
Went to fancy schools
But the only thing they learned to do is talk
All they do is talk
All they do is talk
All they do is talk
All they ever do is talk
All they do is talk
All they do is talk
All they do is talk
All they ever do is talk
All these pompous fools
With their broken rules
And their noses in the air
Keep pretendin' that they care
All these stubborn mules
Went to fancy schools
But the only thing they learned to do is talk
Well, if that's the game I'm playin'
Then I'm prayin' we don't play it for long
Yeah, if that's the game I'm playin'
Then I'm prayin' we don't play it for long
The lyrics of Alec Benjamin's "Hypocrite" criticize the culture of hypocrisy that has permeated our society. Benjamin observes that it is now "hip to be a hypocrite," meaning that it is fashionable or trendy to say things you don't really mean and pretend to care about causes you don't really support. He argues that people can get away with this behavior because no one is holding them accountable. He notes that you can claim to be a winner without having anything at stake and be a sinner without any real desire to change. The people who engage in this behavior are all talk and no action.
The chorus of the song expresses Benjamin's wish that this culture of hypocrisy does not persist for long. He does not want to play the game of saying one thing and doing another because he finds it disingenuous and insincere. The second verse of the song provides an example of the type of people who engage in this behavior - the "pompous fools" with their "broken rules" who pretend to care but are only in it for show. They live in a fancy mansion made out of glass, but they always get a pass for their bad behavior.
Overall, the song is a scathing critique of the culture of hypocrisy that has become prevalent in modern society. Benjamin argues that we should hold each other accountable for our actions and that we should mean what we say. He hopes that we will stop playing the game of hypocrisy before it becomes too ingrained in who we are as a people.
Line by Line Meaning
It's hip to be a hypocrite, well, that's how it seems
It's fashionable to be two-faced and insincere, that's how it appears.
Sayin' and portrayin' things you don't really mean
Saying and showing things that do not reflect your true thoughts or feelings.
All talk, no walk
Making big claims or promises but not following through with any real action.
You can be a winner with no skin in the game
You can appear to win without actually investing anything or taking any risks.
You can be a sinner long as you say you've changed
You can continue to do wrong as long as you pretend to improve or reform yourself.
You're a talk, you're a walk
You're all talk and no action.
All these pompous fools
All these arrogant and self-important individuals.
With their broken rules
Ignoring or breaking the very rules they claim to follow or uphold.
And their noses in the air
Being disdainful, snobbish and supercilious.
Keep pretendin' that they care
Continue pretending to be compassionate or empathetic without really meaning it.
All these stubborn mules
All these obstinate and unyielding individuals.
Went to fancy schools
Received an elite education that made them feel superior to others.
But the only thing they learned to do is talk
The only thing they truly excel at is talking and not doing anything substantial.
They talk, throw rocks
They use words as weapons to criticize or attack others without being willing to get their hands dirty.
Livin' in a mansion that they made out of glass
Living in a house of elaborate and fragile beauty that can come crashing down with any signs of vulnerability.
Always throwin' tantrums, always gettin' a pass
Behaving like unruly children whenever things don't go their way and always being let off without any consequences.
Well, if that's the game I'm playin'
Well, if that's the way people choose to behave, then I will reluctantly join them.
Then I'm prayin' we don't play it for long
However, I sincerely hope that this insincere or hypocritical behavior does not last for long, and that people eventually start being genuine and honest again.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alec Shane Benjamin, Samuel Elliott Roman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anubis 999
[Verse 1]
It's hip to be a hypocrite, well, that's how it seems
Saying and portraying things you don't really mean
You know, all talk, no walk
You can be a winner with no skin in the game
You can be a sinner long as you say you've changed
You're a talk, you're a walk
[Pre-Chorus]
Well, if that's the game we're playing
Then I'm praying we don't play it for long
Yeah, if that's the game we're playing
Then I'm praying we don't play it for long
[Chorus]
All these pompous fools
With their broken rules
And their noses in the air
Keep pretending that they care
All these stubborn mules
Went to fancy schools
But the only thing they learned to do is talk
[Verse 2]
It's hip to be a hypocrite, well, that's how it goes
Saying and portraying things but only for show
They talk, throw rocks
Living in a mansion that they made out of glass
Always throwing tantrums, always getting a pass
All talk, they don't stop
[Pre-Chorus]
Well, if that's the game we're playing
Then I'm praying we don't play it for long
Yeah, if that's the game we're playing
Then I'm praying we don't play it for long
[Chorus]
All these pompous fools
With their broken rules
And their noses in the air
Keep pretending that they care
All these stubborn mules
Went to fancy schools
But the only thing they learned to do is talk
[Post-Chorus]
All they do is talk
All they do is talk
All they do is talk
All they ever do is talk
All they do is talk
All they do is talk
All they do is talk
All they ever do is talk
[Chorus]
All these pompous fools
With their broken rules
And their noses in the air
Keep pretending that they care
All these stubborn mules
Went to fancy schools
But the only thing they learned to do is talk
[Outro]
Well, if that's the game we're playing
Then I'm praying we don't play it for long
Yeah, if that's the game we're playing
Then I'm praying we don't play it for long
Lyrics from genius
Alec Benjamin
MY BRAND NEW ALBUM (UN)COMMENTARY IS OUT EVERYWHERE NOW! I HOPE YOU LOVE IT:) PERFORMING AT COACHELLA THIS SUNDAY/NEXT SUNDAY .. ON TOUR AFTER THAT! tour: https://linktr.ee/alecbenjamin
SpiralIntoBliss
I love your music
tears of joy for all this pain
Alec, I hope you have an amazing time on your tour. Sadly my car won't make it the 3 and a half hour drive to the closest you will be playing to me. Which is such a bummer. Stay safe and have fun. Much love from the north woods.
PrimaryPrism362
poggers
Christian Revilla
When will you release the lyric videos for (UN)commentary? 😭🙏
Melissa P
We saw you in Spokane Washington... It was your first tour date. I took my 13 year old daughter and her friend to watch you and didn't think I would care to watch the show but you surprised me for sure! Both you and the opening gal caught my interest and never lost it! Thank you for what you do. We appreciate you coming to the Knitting factory so all of us up north especially us from Coeur d'Alene Idaho could see you! Just remember to keep having fun and don't forget the little venues when you can fill a stadium! Don't lose yourself to fame!
Anubis 999
[Verse 1]
It's hip to be a hypocrite, well, that's how it seems
Saying and portraying things you don't really mean
You know, all talk, no walk
You can be a winner with no skin in the game
You can be a sinner long as you say you've changed
You're a talk, you're a walk
[Pre-Chorus]
Well, if that's the game we're playing
Then I'm praying we don't play it for long
Yeah, if that's the game we're playing
Then I'm praying we don't play it for long
[Chorus]
All these pompous fools
With their broken rules
And their noses in the air
Keep pretending that they care
All these stubborn mules
Went to fancy schools
But the only thing they learned to do is talk
[Verse 2]
It's hip to be a hypocrite, well, that's how it goes
Saying and portraying things but only for show
They talk, throw rocks
Living in a mansion that they made out of glass
Always throwing tantrums, always getting a pass
All talk, they don't stop
[Pre-Chorus]
Well, if that's the game we're playing
Then I'm praying we don't play it for long
Yeah, if that's the game we're playing
Then I'm praying we don't play it for long
[Chorus]
All these pompous fools
With their broken rules
And their noses in the air
Keep pretending that they care
All these stubborn mules
Went to fancy schools
But the only thing they learned to do is talk
[Post-Chorus]
All they do is talk
All they do is talk
All they do is talk
All they ever do is talk
All they do is talk
All they do is talk
All they do is talk
All they ever do is talk
[Chorus]
All these pompous fools
With their broken rules
And their noses in the air
Keep pretending that they care
All these stubborn mules
Went to fancy schools
But the only thing they learned to do is talk
[Outro]
Well, if that's the game we're playing
Then I'm praying we don't play it for long
Yeah, if that's the game we're playing
Then I'm praying we don't play it for long
Lyrics from genius
♥︎ℌ𝔞𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔫♥︎
Thank youu<33
Nita R
Thank youu
Conner_w
Thanks, this helped so much with some of the words